Grapevine ‘IFG Fifteen’

ABSTRACT

This invention is a new and distinct grapevine variety denominated ‘IFG Fifteen’. The new grapevine is characterized by producing medium size, oval, completely black berries having medium firm texture with a mild muscat flavor and which ripens in early midseason.

Latin name of the genus and species claimed: Vitis vinifera.

Variety denomination: ‘IFG Fifteen’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct grapevine described and claimed herein originatedfrom a hand pollination of the Princess variety (USDA non-patented) andthe Fantasy variety (USDA non-patented) hybridized in May 2003. Theabortive seed traces were subsequently embryo cultured and the resultingplant was planted in the field in April 2004. The present variety ofgrapevine was selected as a single plant in July 2005 and was firstasexually propagated by hardwood cuttings in December 2005 near Delano,Kern County, Calif. The resulting propagules were planted during April2006 at the International Fruit Genetics LLC research facility nearDelano, Kern County, Calif. and were found to reproduce true-to-typethrough at least one generation of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new grapevine ‘IFG Fifteen’ is characterized by producing mediumsize oval completely black berries having medium firm texture with amild muscat flavor and which ripens in early midseason. Berries areborne on medium size clusters which are moderately compact and requiregibberellin applications to thin clusters and size berries. Berriescolor extremely well and do not require chemical applications to achievefull black color. To the inventor's knowledge, the known variety towhich the new grapevine variety is most similar is the Summer Royalvariety (non-patented). ‘IFG Fifteen’ differs from the Summer Royalvariety by ripening approximately one to two weeks later, and having amild muscat flavor as opposed to the neutral flavor of ‘Summer Royal’.Berries of ‘IFG Fifteen’ are smaller than ‘Summer Royal’ and the stem isstronger and more lignified.

‘IFG Fifteen’ differs from its maternal parent, the Princess variety(USDA non-patented) by producing full black, small obtuse ovate berriesas opposed to the large white more blocky cylindrical berries of thePrincess variety. It differs from its pollen parent, the Fantasy variety(USDA non-patented) by having earlier ripening, small black berries witha mild muscat flavor as opposed to the later ripening, large blackneutral flavored berries of ‘Fantasy’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying photographic illustrations in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2illustrate in full color ‘IFG Fifteen’. FIG. 1 shows fruit clusters onthe vine, and FIG. 2 shows mature leaves, a young shoot tip and flower.The photographs were taken outdoors with indirect lighting. The colorsare as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representationof this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England.

Throughout this specification subjective description values conform tothose set forth by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institutepublication ‘Descriptors for Grape’ (Vitis spp.) (1983) which wasdeveloped in collaboration with the Office International de la Vigne etdu Vin (OIV) and the International Union for the Protection of NewVarieties of Plants (UPOV).

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to ‘IFG Fifteen’ plantsgrown in the vicinity of Delano, Kern County, Calif. during 2009 to2011, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown undersimilar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere:

-   Vine:    -   -   General.—Size — Large. Vigor — Medium. Density of foliage —            Medium dense. Productivity — Medium productive. Root stock —            Own root. Training method — Typically spur pruned leaving 2            bud spurs.        -   Trunk.—Trunk diameter of 4-year-old vines at 30 cm above the            soil line — 5.4 cm. Shape — Medium. Straps — Short — Split.            Surface texture — Shaggy. Inner bark color — Can be any of            the following colors; Greyed orange; 177A and B and D.-   Shoots:    -   -   Young shoot.—Form of tip — Fully opened. Distribution of            anthocyanin coloration of tip — Piping (striped). Intensity            of anthocyanin coloration of tip — Very weak. Density of            prostrate hairs of tip — Medium dense. Density of erect            hairs of tip — Absent. Color — Can be any of the following            colors; Yellow green; 146C and 144A.        -   Woody shoot (mature canes).—Shape — Medium thick. Internode            length — Medium; About 13.0 cm. Width at node — About            1.3 cm. Cross section — Elliptic. Surface — Edged. Main            color — Can be any of the following colors; Grey orange;            175A and B and C. Density of erect hairs of nodes — None.            Density of erect hairs on internodes — None. Growth of            axillary shoots — Weak; Approximately 4.6 cm.        -   Flowering shoot.—Vigor during flowering — Medium to Strong.            Attitude during flowering on shoots not tied — Semi-drooping            to Drooping. Color — dorsal side of internodes — Green with            Red stripes. Color — ventral side of internodes — Green with            Red stripes. Color — dorsal side of nodes — Green with Red            stripes. Color — ventral side of nodes — Green. Density of            prostrate hairs of nodes — Very sparse. Density of erect            hairs on nodes — None. Density of prostrate hairs on            internode — None. Density of erect hairs on internode —            None. Anthocyanin coloration of buds — Absent.        -   Tendrils.—Distribution on the shoot (at full flowering) —            Discontinuous. Length of Tendril — Medium; About 18.4 cm.            Thickness — Medium. Color — Can be any of the following            colors; Yellow green; 144A and B. Form — Bifurcated. Number            of consecutive tendrils — 2.-   Leaves:    -   -   Young leaves.—Color of upper surface of first four distal            unfolded leaves — Green. Average intensity of anthocyanin            coloration of six distal leaves prior to flowering — Absent.            Density of prostrate hairs between veins (lower surface) —            Sparse. Density of prostrate hairs on veins (lower surface)            — Sparse. Density of erect hairs between veins (lower            surface) — Absent. Density of erect hairs on veins (lower            surface) — Very sparse.        -   Mature leaves.—Average length — About 15.6 cm. Average width            — About 18.7 cm. Mature leaf size — Large. Shape of blade —            Pentagonal. Number of lobes — 5. Anthocyanin coloration of            main veins on upper side of blade — Absent. Mature leaf            profile — Undulate. Blistering surface of blade upper            surface — Very weak. Leaf blade tip — In the plane of the            leaf. Undulation of margin — Slight. Thickness — Medium.            Undulation of blade between main and lateral veins — Absent.            Shape of teeth — Mixture of both sides straight and both            sides convex. Length of teeth — Medium. Ratio length/width            of teeth — Medium. Shape of upper lateral sinuses — Lobes            slight to strongly overlapping. Depth of upper lateral            sinuses — Deep. General shape petiole sinus — Slightly open            to Closed. Shape of base of upper leaf sinuses — U-shaped.            Tooth at petiole sinus — Absent. Density of prostrate hairs            between veins on lower surface of blade — Very sparse.            Density of erect hairs between veins on lower surface of            blade — Very sparse. Density of prostrate hairs on main            veins on lower surface of blade — Very sparse. Density of            erect hairs on main veins on lower surface of blade — Sparse            to Medium. Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on upper            surface of blade — Sparse. Density of erect hairs on main            veins on upper surface of blade — None. Autumn coloration of            leaves — Leaves can be a single color or combination of            colors, in a mottled pattern or on the edges of the leaves;            Greyed yellow; 163A and B and C, and 162A, and Greyed            purple; N186C and 187A and B and C, and Greyed red; 181A and            183A and B and C.        -   Upper surface.—Color — Can be any of the following colors;            Green; 137A and 139A. Anthocyanin coloration of main veins —            Absent. Surface appearance — Dull. Blistering surface of            blade — Very weak.        -   Lower surface.—Color — Can be any of the following colors;            Green; 138A and 137C. Anthocyanin coloration of main veins            (lower surface) — Medium. Glossiness — Weak. Surface texture            — Smooth. Surface appearance — Dull.        -   Petiole.—Length — About 11.5 cm. Length of petiole compared            to middle vein — Much shorter. Density of prostrate hairs on            petiole — None. Density of erect hairs on petiole — None.        -   Buds.—Bud fruitfulness — Basal: Mostly fruitful. Position of            first fruitful shoot on previous season cane — 2^(nd) to            3^(rd) node. Time of bud burst — Late; Mar. 10, 2011.-   Flowers:    -   -   General.—Flower sex — Hermaphrodite. Length of first            inflorescence — Medium; About 16.1 cm long by 10.2 cm wide.            Position of first flowering and fruiting node — 4^(th) or            5^(th) node (current season growth). Number of inflorescence            per flowering shoot — 1.1 to 2. Time of bloom — Midseason as            compared with similar varieties in the growing area of            Delano, Calif. Date of full bloom — May 17, 2011.-   Fruit:    -   -   General.—Ripening period — Early; Approximately Aug.            8, 2011. Use — Fresh market. Keeping quality — Excellent.            Resistance to — Insects: Average typical of Vitis vinifera            species. Diseases: Average typical of Vitis vinifera            species. Refractometer test — Soluble solids: About 21.4            Brix. Brix/acid — About 38.9. Titratable acidity — About            0.55 g/100 ml. Juice pH — About 3.63.        -   Cluster.—Mature cluster length (peduncle excluded) — About            23.1 cm. Mature cluster width — About 13.7 cm. Mature            cluster weight — About 560 g. Bunch density — Medium. Number            of berries — About 149. Form — Conical.        -   Peduncle.—Lignification of peduncle — Weak. Length of            peduncle — Medium. Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Berry.—Uniformity of size — Uniform. Single berry weight —            About 4.4 g natural; to about 5.2 g when treated with            gibberellic acid. Shape — Obtuse ovate. Seeds — Contains            small rudimentary seed traces. Cross section — Circular.            Berry dimensions — longitudinal axis: About 2.1 cm.            horizontal axis: About 1.9 cm. Berry firmness — Medium firm.            Particular flavor — Mild Muscat. Bloom (cuticular wax) —            Medium. Berry separation from pedicel — Medium. Skin color            (without bloom) — Can be any of the following colors; Greyed            purple; N186A and B.        -   Skin.—Thickness — Medium. Texture — Medium. Reticulation —            Absent. Tenacity — Tenacious to flesh.

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine as hereinillustrated and described.